Hobart is the capital of the Australian state of Tasmania, which is the largest island of the country. It is also one of the oldest cities of Australia; since, it is the second oldest capital of the country. Only Sidney is older than Hobart in Australia. Hobart’s population is relatively small (250 000 inhabitants); nevertheless, it is one of the main cities of the country. Hobart is located at southeast Tasmania on the shores of the Derwent River.

View of Hobart

The first European settlement in Tasmania was established in 1803 on the banks of the Derwent River; nevertheless, this British settlement was rapidly moved to another location near Sullivan’s Cove, in the current location where now is Hobart. The city was named initially Hobart Town and it was called Hobarton by the people. The city was named in honor to Lord Hobart, the Colonial Secretary. Initially, Hobart was a penal colony; but, step by step, this city was gaining importance and in 1875, it was renamed Hobart.

The climate of this city is warm almost the entire year, nevertheless, because of the location of Tasmania at south of Australia, the winters in Hobart can be cold. Usually, temperatures in summer, fluctuates between 12ºC (53.6ºF) and 22ºC (71.6ºF); but, in winter they can decrease until 4ºC (39.2); however, the average temperature in this region during winter is around 8ºC (46.4). The annual precipitation rate in Hobart is 616 mm (24.26 inches) per year.

The Christian religion is the predominant religion of the city. According to the census of 2006, major religious affiliations are Anglican (29.8%), Catholic (21.1%), Uniting Church (4.2%) and the rest of religions represent 21.6 % of the population. This city is an important port, being the base for the activities of France and Australia in the Antarctic. Other important economic activities of the city are: a high speed catamaran factory, a zinc smelter and the tourism. Hobart has an average weekly house income of $869, which is one of the lower rates of Australia; since, the national average is $1027.

Hobart is considered one of the most important tourist destinations of Australia, because of the great number of wonders that surround the city such as beaches, nature parks, museums, historical monuments and many other amazing attractions. Hobart is taken as base by many visitors to explore the wonders of Tasmania. Some of the most important tourist attractions of Hobart are: the Mount Wellington, the Botanical Gardens, the Battery Point, the Salamanca Market, the Maritime Museum of Tasmania, the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery and the famous Tasman Bridge.

Hobart has also an excellent tourist infrastructure, which includes hotels, restaurants, clubs and much more. Obviously, the seafood is the specialty of the region; but, there is also a great offer of international food that includes food from China, Thailand, Italy, Greece, Mexico and India. Hobart is considered the cultural hub of Tasmania; therefore; it has several events and festivals, like the famous “Sidney to Hobart Yatch Race“, which is one of the most famous yacht races of the world. Another important event in this city is the Hobart Summer Festival, a festival of food and wine that is celebrated between December and January. It highlights also the Southern Roots Festival and the Falls Festival. Besides, the city is home of the oldest theatre in Australia, the Theatre Royal and the prestigious Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra. There are also many concerts of rock, metal, punk, jazz, hip-hop, techno and classical music.

The city is served by the Hobart International Airport, which is located 15 Km from Hobart’s downtown. This airport receives mainly local flights from Australian cities, such as Sidney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Burnie. At the airport, there are several buses that run to the city. In the city, the urban transport means are the public bus and the private cars. But, because of the small size of the city, many people prefer to use a bike. Hobart is a nice city, ideal to take as base of a trip through Tasmania.